MFT programs in the Bay Area, compared on the things that change the path.

Degree

M.A. in Counseling Psychology — Integral Counseling Psychology (M.A.-C.P.)

Units

60 units (LMFT track); 70 units (LPCC track)

Length

3 years (7 semesters)

Format

On-campus weekday; on-campus weekend (5 weekends/semester); hybrid online

Practicum placement

You apply, with help

Published tuition

$1,449.0 per unit · 2026-27

Integral/holistic, spiritual and multicultural orientation. CIIS also runs other counseling MAs (e.g. Somatic, Expressive Arts, Community Mental Health) not individually verified here.

Degree

M.S. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration

Units

Not published

Length

2 years (~5 semesters)

Format

Full-time cohort, Hayward campus only; day, evening, some weekends

Practicum placement

Not published

Published tuition

Not published

Additional units may be needed for LPCC

Degree

M.S. in Counseling Psychology with MFT and/or PCC concentration

Units

43 units base MS; 60 units with MFT and/or PCC concentration

Length

30–36 months

Format

In-person; part-time, full-time, evening and weekend options

Practicum placement

Program places you

Published tuition

$83,882.0 total · 2026-27

Max 20 students per class; 50+ community agency practicum partners; all faculty are practicing clinicians

Degree

M.A. in Counseling Psychology

Units

60 credits

Length

As few as 2.5 years full-time; part-time available

Format

Online or hybrid

Practicum placement

Not published

Published tuition

$1,090.0 per unit

Requires 300 face-to-face clinical hours plus a 50-hour personal psychotherapy requirement

Degree

M.S. in Clinical Psychology / Marriage & Family Therapist (MS CP/MFT)

Units

60 units

Length

2–3 years

Format

In-person, synchronous online, and asynchronous online; part-time or full-time; late afternoon, evening, weekends

Practicum placement

Not published

Published tuition

Not published

No additional differentiator published.

Degree

M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), with an MFCC emphasis option

Units

Quarter system; 4.5 quarter units per course; total not stated

Length

9 quarters (~2 years)

Format

Residential hybrid (weekday evenings, on-campus or Zoom) OR distance/online (live Zoom + two in-person residencies)

Practicum placement

You apply, with help

Published tuition

Not published

No additional differentiator published.

Degree

M.A. in Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy / Professional Clinical Counseling (MFT/PCC) specialization

Units

68 units minimum (40 core + 28 specialization); 81 units with dual School Counseling specialization

Length

3–5 year plans of study

Format

Classroom + weekly seminars + fieldwork

Practicum placement

You apply, with help

Published tuition

$1,180.0 per unit · 2026-27

Dual specialization option adds the PPS credential

Degree

M.S. in Counseling: Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling

Units

60 units min

Length

Published 2-year and 3-year roadmaps; department-reported average time to degree is 2.9 years (range 2–7).

Format

In-person

Practicum placement

You apply, with help

Published tuition

Not published

No additional differentiator published.

Degree

M.S. in Clinical Psychology

Units

60 semester units

Length

Not published

Format

Not published

Practicum placement

You find your own

Published tuition

Not published

Explicitly BBS-approved for CA MFT; program states it has made no determination of licensure eligibility in any state other than California

Degree

M.A. in Counseling Psychology (MFT track; LPCC track; joint MFT/LPCC track)

Units

90 quarter units; 91.5–93 quarter units for joint MFT/LPCC

Length

3 years

Format

In-person + online; full- and part-time pathways

Practicum placement

You apply, with help

Published tuition

$726.0 per unit

Emphases: Latino Counseling, LGBTQ Counseling, Health Psychology, Correctional Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health

Degree

M.A. in Counseling Psychology (MACP)

Units

90–97.5 quarter units depending on concentration

Length

3 years

Format

Online + low-residency (two 10-day intensives per year — one in-person on campus at the start of Fall, one virtual synchronous at the start of Spring)

Practicum placement

You find your own

Published tuition

$663.0 per unit · 2025-26

Creative Expression Concentration (21 units); transpersonal psychology heritage

Degree

M.A. in Counseling Psychology

Units

60 credit units

Length

2 years as designed; 3-year option available by deferring practicum

Format

Cohort model; daytime and weekend schedules

Practicum placement

You apply, with help

Published tuition

$78,600.0 total · 2026-27

Cultural competency and social justice emphasis. Note: students who defer practicum are not eligible for federal loans in year 3.

Degree

M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration

Units

60 units

Length

Not published

Format

Not published

Practicum placement

Not published

Published tuition

$81,000.0 total · 2026-27

No additional differentiator published.

Degree

M.S. in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy

Units

Not published

Length

2–6 years

Format

Online

Practicum placement

You find your own

Published tuition

Not published

Tuition is $9,600 a year, charged as an annual subscription rather than per unit — on any ordinary completion timeline that makes it by a wide margin the cheapest LMFT-qualifying degree on the Board’s list. Two things to weigh against that. It is accredited by DEAC, a national rather than a regional accreditor, which is the distinction that decides whether a degree travels. And the unit count is not on the website; it is in the June 2026 catalog PDF. Non-profit, founded 1975.

Degree

M.A. in Counseling, Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling specialization

Units

71 credits

Length

About 3 years (minimum 2 years 8 months)

Format

Primarily in person, with 10 credits available online

Practicum placement

You find your own

Published tuition

Not published

Board-approved since 1992, and the page states it satisfies both the AMFT/LMFT and APCC/LPCC registration paths. The seminary is Oregon-based; the California counseling degree is delivered from the San Jose campus, which is what the Board lists.